Advice on building a cheap and easy chicken coop?

[alexmama]

I want to build a coop so we can have a couple hens. Nothing fancy, just functional. I am not that handy but can figure out simple projects. What excactly do I need to get a coop set up? My grandparents next door have a coop about the size of my living room! Huge! I don't want something that large. Thanks mamas

[Badonkadonk Knits]

I suggest checking out backyardchickens.com. On there you will find TONS of photos and detailed descriptions of small, medium, large and chicken tractor type coops others have done. I just built a coop (and I'm not a builder!) all by myself (meaning no help from the hubby) after looking at different coops on that site and taking ideas from my favorites to fit the space we had available.

I think the most important things are to plan something that will allow adequate size for the amount of hens you plan to have, including some sort of run/outdoor space they can scratch around in as nature intended. Predator proofing is big. Think ease of cleaning (deep litter method, or cleaning out more often- what fits your lifestyle?). Nesting and roosting options galore out there on that site too!

You can get creative too, and instead of building from scratch, pick up a structure from someplace like Craigslist, like a medium sized dog house or play house, and convert that into a coop.

[vjbakke]

I agree, we found ideas for our coop on that website. Also keep in mind what your winters are like. Here we fully insulated ours due to our extreme winters.